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Opposition politician Imran Khan is heading up the protest march
Two convoys with thousands of anti-government protesters in Pakistan have begun travelling from Lahore to the capital Islamabad, amid tight security.
The protesters are separately led by opposition politician Imran Khan and anti-government cleric Tahirul Qadri.
They want PM Nawaz Sharif to resign and have promised a regime change.
Both camps are angry about the sinking economy, growing militancy, and failure to deliver core services such as the electricity supply.
Mr Khan has also accused Mr Sharif of failing to probe fraud in last year's polls.
The two leaders and their followers are travelling 350km (218 miles) with cars, trucks, motorbikes and jeeps, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan.
They are expected to arrive at Islamabad to stage their rallies by early Friday at the latest.
Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri have agreed to assemble at Islamabad's Zero Point, a sprawling avenue at the east end of the capital, away from residential and commercial centres and the red zone, which houses government establishments and foreign missions.
The government meanwhile has accused the protesters of trying to derail democracy.
But it also announced on Tuesday a Supreme Court commission to investigate allegations of rigging in the 2013 poll.
This was dismissed by Mr Khan, who vowed to press ahead with the march saying that only Mr Sharif's resignation would stop his rally now.
The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Islamabad says the stand-off is seen as the biggest challenge yet to Mr Sharif's government.
There is is anxiety and uncertainty about what will happen on the streets of the capital later, our correspondent adds.
Mobile phones jammedTens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed in Islamabad and in cities across Punjab province.
Roadblocks have been placed on all major entry and exit points to the two cities. The mobile phone network has also been partially suspended.
Many fear clashes between police and Mr Qadri's followers, who want to hold their own "revolution march" on Islamabad.
Earlier, his supporters were reportedly blocked into an area around his home and the cleric was not allowed to leave for his rally.
But Reuters news agency said the government reversed its decision on Thursday afternoon and allowed his supporters to march to the capital.
In a country with a history of military coups, everyone fears that violence beyond a certain point may force the hand of even a reluctant army to intervene, correspondents say.
Last week at least six people were killed in Punjab province in clashes between police and supporters of Mr Qadri.
Mr Qadri, who until recently was based in Canada, returned to Pakistan in June and is one of Pakistan's most prominent political and religious figures.
He leads the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) party and has condemned the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as corrupt.
He says he plans to lead a peaceful revolt against Mr Sharif, who he says has failed to solve basic problems such as unemployment and frequent electricity outages.
Mr Qadri has called for a military-backed government to take over from Mr Sharif, but has denied being supported by the army.
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